Latest Gilas call-up gives Troy Rosario a chance for redemption

Troy Rosario during a stint with Gilas Pilipinas. –INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The last time Troy Rosario donned a Gilas Pilipinas jersey, results weren’t too pretty.

Now with a chance to represent the national team again, Rosario is hoping for a different outcome.

“My last stint with Gilas for the SEA (Southeast Asian) Games in 2022 didn’t really end well so maybe this could be a bounce back,” said Rosario after Ginebra’s loss to TNT in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Friday at Philsports Arena.

READ: Troy Rosario joins Gilas pool ahead of Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers

“I said ‘why not?’ [to the opportunity] I wouldn’t refuse that… This is for the country. That’s always how I think of these. Whenever you’re included in the national team, don’t refuse because it’s for the country.”

Since 1991, the Philippines notched 13 gold in the regional meet’s basketball games until 2021 when its decade-long dominance in the hardwood was halted by Indonesia.

Troy Rosario during a stint with Gilas Pilipinas. –INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Rosario was a member of that Gilas squad.

READ: SEA Games: Gilas Pilipinas’ reign ends as Indonesia gets basketball gold

With a shot at redemption, Rosario has recently been balling out for the Gin Kings in an overall hot-and-cold conference.

Despite Ginebra’s latest loss against its Governors’ Cup Finals rival, Rosario nearly notched a double-double of 16 points and eight rebounds.

Even though the former Blackwater franchise player is flaunting career-best numbers, it’s still not a guarantee that he would make the cut for Gilas’ final count for the third and final window of the 2025 Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers.

He has an edge, though, in the form of Ginebra and Gilas coach Tim Cone.

“It’s still not sure if I’ll be in the Final 12 but like I always say, as long as you’re in the pool, there’s a chance for you to reach the Final 12,” Rosario said.

“At least, I know the system that will be used. Maybe coach [Tim] will tweak things a little bit but the system and plays will be like the ones in Ginebra.”